Mentor Schools on ballot with 2 renewal levies in May 7 special election

Mentor Schools will place two renewal levies on the May 7 special election ballot.

Superintendent Matt Miller stressed that the levies do not equate to new taxes for residents but simply continue the same collection and revenue that taxpayers have contributed for the past several years.

The permanent improvement levy that originally passed in 1988 is the first of the two levies up for renewal. It typically generates $1 million per year, Miller said.

The second is the operating levy, which generates $15 million per year, Miller said, noting the two combined make up about 18 percent of the district's budget.

Advertisement

Both levies are set to expire before the end of next year, and the district is especially in need of the renewals after $10 million in budget cuts from the state this year, said district spokeswoman Kristen Kirby.

Special elections cost more for the district to be on the ballot, as not every district will be, according to the Lake County Board of Elections.

District Treasurer Dan Wilson said for budgeting purposes, it benefits the district to go on the ballot in May.

"We begin our budget planning in late April or early May ... from a budget planning standpoint it's important for us to know prior to July 1st," he said.

Miller also said that if the district only placed the levy on the November ballot, and it were to fail, the district would go without permanent improvement money for at least an entire calender year.

The cost difference between the special election ballot and the general election ballot depends on how many issues are on in May.

If other entities, such as a Mentor Municipal Court primary election, were on the ballot in May, then the school district would split the cost with them.

The difference in cost when compared to a November election is greater because entities that share a precinct split the costs, including city council races.

Essentially, the district would pay $1,000 to $1,500 per precinct if it is the only issue on the ballot. If Mentor Municipal Court has a primary election, that would bring the cost down to about $500 to $700 per precinct, Elections Board Director Scott E. Daisher said.

For the November general election, the cost would be split by council races, the district and any other shared precincts equating to somewhere around $333 to $500 per precinct.

Forty-five precincts make up the Mentor School District in Lake County, plus a few in Geauga County. Thirty-nine of the precincts would be split between the court and the district if both are on the May ballot, Daisher added.

The board will need to pass a second resolution to approve sending the measure to the ballot. The district is working with the Lake County Auditor to finalize effective millage rates.